Hi TV Head of Channel, Danu Innasithamby signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with World Vision Lanka yesterday (18), pledging partnership to help uplift mental wellbeing of children and youth in the North, Sri Lanka through the Every Mind Matters initiative.
“The North holds a special place in my heart because it’s where I come from. I often wonder how different my life might have been if my mother hadn’t made the brave decision to leave the North during the war and move us to Colombo. This is why I am so passionate about championing peace in the North”, Danu said.
“I am grateful to be part of a small solution that could inspire change. If we can help these children think beyond their current circumstances, embrace positivity, and dream big, we will be planting seeds of hope—not just for them, but for an entire generation, and ultimately, for our country’s future,” he said, “Generations have endured unimaginable tears, hardship, disappointment, and agony, all while facing a dark and uncertain future. Today, their children, the next generation carrying this legacy forward, are still burdened by the pain, regret, and trauma that their parents lived through.”
Ongoing research studies carried out in the area by World Vision Lanka revealed that an alarming number of children and youth suffer from depleting mental health issues, and as a result, are highly vulnerable to drugs, violence, other types of abuse and worse, suicide.
Every Mind Matters is an initiative that is designed in response to these findings. It intends to improve mental wellbeing of children through sports, especially in the once war torn North. This campaign launched in 2023 as a 70km marathon and continued in 2024 through an 80km marathon by former World Vision Lanka staff and a champion for mental health, Subhashi (Subi) Aubert.
The campaign raised funds and awareness about mental health issues endured by the children in the North. Proceedings from 2023 were used to provide sports equipment to schools and youth clubs and training for the coaches.
Sharing World Vision Lanka’s aspirations, Partnership Specialist -National Resource Development Shalomi Selvaraj said, “Since its inception in 2023, the campaign has leveraged sports as a tool to engage children in schools, fostering healthy interactions and creating spaces for meaningful engagement. Given the growing concerns about children’s mental health in Sri Lanka, we are committed to taking this campaign further by advocating and raising awareness among children, parents, schools, and communities.”
Distinguished guests such as Diplomats, public sector and private sector leaders, music and TV entertainment industry personalities too graced the occasion.